FIRST SECTION: BRUNATE - PIAN DEL TIVANO Walking Time: 6 Hrs.- Ascent: 582 M LA DORSALE DEL TRIANGOLO LARIANO - FIRST SECTION

LA DORSALE DEL TRIANGOLO LARIANO - FIRST SECTION

BELLAGIO GUGGIATE m 230

LEZZENO

NESSO PIANPIAN DDELEL TTIVANOIVANO m 973 BUS P

M. PIANCHETTE COLMA DEL PIANO m 1.243 m 1.124 M. CROCE COLMA DI CAGLIO m 1.351 m 1.129 CIPPO MARELLI LECCO POGNANA LARIO m 1.293 BOCCHETTA M. FAELLO DI CAGLIO m 1.243 RIF. RIELLA m 1.275 PALANZO R FAGGETO LARIO TRIANGOLO LARIANO LEMNA BOCCHETTA M. PALANZONE DI PALANZO m 1.436 MOLINA m 1.210 T TORNO CAPANNA MARA R CASLINO D’ERBA BOCCHETTA DI MOLINA CAPANNA BOCCHETTA BOLETTO m 1.116 SAN PIETRO DI LEMNA FABRIZIO m 1.116 m 1.167 P. TRE TERMINI m 1.100 m 1.140 BAITA BONDELLA m 1.075 M. BOLETTONE BAITA CARLA m 1.317 m 997 R R RIF. CAO M. BOLETTO m 980 m 1.236 RIF. BOLETTONE M. UCCELLERA m 1.310 m 1.027 S. MAURIZIO m 906 BRUNATE 1 m 715 ALPE DEL VICERÈ FUNICOLARE COMO BUS ALBAVILLA FIRST SECTION: BRUNATE - PIAN DEL TIVANO Walking time: 6 hrs.- Ascent: 582 m LA DORSALE DEL TRIANGOLO LARIANO - FIRST SECTION

BRUNATE (715 m) From Como you can go to Brunate with the the funicular (spectacular view over the lake and the town of Como) From the funicular station in Brunate it’s possible to take a bus as to Piazzale C.A.O . (bus service on Sundays only; in July and August daily). If you start the walk from the funicular station in Brunate go left and take the trail to S. Maurizio on the left side of the church. The trail stretches among gardens and villas. When in the hamlet of SAN MAURIZIO (906 m - time 0.30 min.) where you ignore the road signed for“Via alle Colme”. Before continuing we recommend a little detour to the “Faro Voltiano” (Volta light house), built in 1927 to celebrate the centenary of the death of Alessandro Volta, the great scientist born in Como. Back in the square, go to the left side of it and follow the trail signs uphill through the woods (at the intersections keep right).The track ends up on the side of the small church S. Rita at the beginning of the square Piazzale CAO. Across Piazzale C.A.O. take the road to the left which leads past Rifugio C.A.O . (980 m). The trail continues through the woods and soon Bolla Palanzone (photo Gino Siclari) reaches BAITA CARLA (997 m) .

Detour 1: Como - Brunate – Torno (3hrs.) 300 meters past Baita Carla you can pick up trail n° 15 on the left which leads down to Torno by Monte Piatto. From Torno it’s possible to return to Como by bus (line C 30) or by boat.

A cart-track leads along the slopes of Pizzo 3Termini, to BAITA BONDELLA (1.075 m) from where you have a most beau - tiful view of the Alps, the Alpi Marittime, and the small lake of Montorfano.The trail continues to RISTORO DEL BOLETTO FABRIZIO (1.100 m - time 0.50; 1.20 hrs.) Just past this inn, after a brief ascent, you can choose between the“Dorsale per Cresta” (over the tops) on the right and the“Dorsale” downhill to the left.The“Dorsale per cresta” leads to the top of the Boletto (1.236 m). The “Dorsale” leads along the north side of the mountain ridge with a beautiful view over Lake Como and the surrounding mountains. After a level stretch the path leads down to the BOCCHETTA DI MOLINA (1.116 m. - time 0.40; 2.15 hrs.) close to the ex Capanna San PietroYou ignore the devia - tion to the right.

Detour 2: COMO – BRUNATE – ALPE DEL VICERE’ 3.30 hrs . ThepathtotherightjustpasttheexCapannaSanPietroleadsdowntotheBaitaPatriziandfromheretoApedelVicerè.On your way you will find some inns and picnic grounds with barbecue facilities. From Alpe del Vicerè a 5 km long road leads down the town Albavilla, where bus line C40 will take you back to Como

Detour 3 COMO – BRUNATE – BOCCHETTA DI MOLINA – MOLINA 3.30 hrs . FromBocchettadiMolinaatrailleadsdowntothelefttothetownMolina.Fromhereit’spossibletopickupthebuslineC31 back to Como.

Continue on the Dorsale trail and you soon reach a fork with a signpost; the trail to the right is the more scenic but more LA DORSALE DEL TRIANGOLO LARIANO - FIRST SECTION tiring“Dorsale per Cresta” leading in 45 minutes to the top of Monte Bolettone (1.310 m) and to Rifugio Bolettone and then descends to Bocchetta di Lemna (total walking time 1hr.10); the trail to the left is the normal“Dorsale” trail which runs through a beech wood around Monte Bolettone arriving in about the same amount of time at BOCCHETTA DI LEMNA (1.115 m. - time 1.10; 3.10 hrs.) at the end of the north eastern slope of Monte Bolettone. From the Bocchetta you can reach Capanna Mara in about 15 minutes.

Detour 4 Como - Brunate – Lemna 5.00 hrs. From Bocchetta di Lemna the cart track on the left leads down to the town Lemna in about 1.30hrs. From here you can pick up bus line C31 back to Como.

From Bocchetta di Lemna the trail heads northwards with a beautiful view of the valley of Caslino d’Erba, the tops of the Resegone and Monte Palanzone. After a brief stretch you can choose between the“ Dorsale per Cresta” which in 25 minutes heads to the top of Pizzo dell’Asino (1272 m) or the Dorsale which leads along the woody east slope of Pizzo dell’Asino. After you have passed two streams (note the formation of the sedimentary layers) you reach BOCCHETTA DI PALANZO (1.210 m.- time 0.40; 3.50 hrs.) situated between the Val di Cairo to the west and Valle Piot to the east, a real crossroad of trails.

Detour 5 Como – Brunate – Bocchetta di Palanzo – Palanzo 5.30 hrs. FromtheBocchettadiPalanzothereisacarttracktotheleftwhichinabout1.30hrs.leadsdowntothetownPalanzo.From here it is possible to take the bus line C31 back to Como.

Detour 6 Como – Brunate – Bocchetta di Palanzo – Caslino d’Erba 5.30 hrs. From the Bocchetta di Palanzo there is a trail to the right which leads in about 1.30 hrs. down to the town Caslino d’Erba. From here it is possible to take the bus line C 94 back to Como or the train to Milan.

At the fork after Bocchetta di Palanzo you can choose again between the“Dorsale per Cresta” and the“Dorsale ”. The first one ascends in about 45 minutes the top of Monte Palanzone (1.436 m) with its characteristic pyramid-shaped chapel, and then descends the north slope of the mountain to the Bocchetta di Caglio (total walking time approx. 1.10 hrs).The “Dorsale” leads you along the west slope of Monte Palanzone to RIFUGIO RIELLA also called Rifugio Palanzone (1.275 m - time 0.10; 4.00 hrs.). From here you have a beauti - ful view over Lake Como, Faggeto Lario and the surrounding mountains.There is a fountain just past the rifugio (refuge). Continuing on the trail you soon arrive at CIPPO MARELLI (1.293m) and at BOCCHETTA DI NESSO. You pass the ex - tended fields of Preaola on a level track which leads around Monte Palanzone with a nice view down on Piano di Nesso and Monte San Primo . You then arrive at BOCCHETTA DI CAGLIO (1.297 m. - time 0.20; 4.30 hrs.) . You ignore the trail to the right leading down to Caglio and continue uphill along the slope of Monte Croce (1.351 m). The large track leads to the beginning of Braga di Cavallo (1.350 m), where you notice a group of isolated beech trees. Here to the right starts a steep descent heading to Monte Pianchetta (1.243 m). After a brief stretch uphill, the steep descent continues over the ridge to COLMA DI CAGLIO (1.129 m - time 0.30; 5.00 hrs.) . At the fork in front of Monte Falò (1.182 m), you pick up the large cart-track to the left leading down to COLMA DEL PIANO also called Colma di Sormano (1.124 m - time 0.20; 5.20 hrs) where there is an inn. At the Colma there is a astronomical observatory. …..

N.B. At this point you can choose whether to interrupt the trek and descend to Pian del Tivano where you LA DORSALE DEL TRIANGOLO LARIANO - FIRST SECTION can stay overnight or pick a bus back to the lake, or to walk the whole trail to Bellagio without descend - ing to Pian del Tivano .

Those who are wishing to proceed will pick up the large plain cart trek just past the entrance of the restaurant Baita Colma.The track leads up to Colma dei Cippiei (1.185 m), and past the Colma del Bosco reaches the ALPE SPESSOLA (1.237 m – 1 hr) where the second part of the trek also passes. (see below)

Those who are interrupting the walk will follow the asphalted road to the left downhill heading to PIAN DEL TIVANO (973 m - time 0.40; 6.00 hrs.) - refreshments and lodging available - bus stop to Nesso. If you wish to sleep in the farm“Azienda Conca d’Oro” take the rural road to the right just past the old ski lift near Agri - turismo – Restaurant Binda - where also the second section of the trail starts. Otherwise walk ca. 1,5 km further down along the main road to reach the hotel Albergo del Dosso or the bus stop close to the restaurant “Il Nuovo Ministro” (ticket sale) slightly before the hotel.

Vista dal Palanzone (photo Gino Siclari)